1969 in spaceflight

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1969 in spaceflight
Buzz salutes the U.S. Flag.jpg
Humanity's first crewed lunar landing (Apollo 11)
National firsts
Satellite Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
Rockets
Maiden flights
Retirements
Crewed flights
Orbital9
Total travellers22

1969 saw humanity step onto another world for the first time. On 20 July 1969, the Apollo 11 Lunar Module, Eagle, landed on the Moon's surface with two astronauts aboard. Days later the crew of three returned safely to Earth, satisfying U.S. President John F. Kennedy's 1962 challenge of 25 May 1961, that "this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to the Earth." [1] [2]

Contents

There were four Apollo missions in total in 1969, three of which traveled to the Moon, with Apollo 12 also landing on the surface. The success of the Apollo program was a testament to the efforts of over 500,000 American engineers, scientists and technicians.

In 1969, the Soviet Union's space program had success with the docking of two crewed spacecraft as well as the success of their Venus and Lunar probes. The Soviets, however, suffered severe blows to their crewed Lunar aspirations when their N1 rocket failed twice during two 1969 launches.

Orbital launches

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks

January

5 January
06:28 [3]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M / Blok VL Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 5 Heliocentric Venus lander16 May 1969Successful
Lander operated for 53 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus.
10 January
05:51 [3]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M / Blok-VL Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Venera 6 Heliocentric Venus lander17 May 1969Successful
Lander operated for 51 minutes in the atmosphere of Venus.
12 January
12:10 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 263 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical imaging20 January 1969 [5] Successful
14 January
07:30
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-31 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 4 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight17 January 1969Successful
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 5)
15 January
07:04
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 5 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight18 January 1969Successful
First docking between two crewed spacecraft (with Soyuz 4)
20 January
04:14 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/23 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 7K-L1 (Zond-1969A) Selenocentric Test flight20 January 1969Failure
One of the RD-0210 engines in the second stage failed, resulting in automatic shutdown of the vehicle. Capsule was successfully recovered after successful launch abort.
22 January
16:48 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta C1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-17 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OSO 5 NASA Low Earth Astronomy2 April 1984 [5] Successful
22 January
19:10 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OPS 7585 (GAMBIT-3 4319) NRO Low Earth Optical imaging3 February 1969 [5] Partial failure
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time. [9]
23 January
09:15 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 264 (Zenit-4M) Low Earth Optical imaging5 February 1969 [5] Successful
25 January
11:10 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2A Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 90/19 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 265 (US-AO No.5) Low Earth Naval surveillance23 January 1969Failure
30 January
06:46 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta E1 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-2E Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg ISIS 1 CSA Medium Earth ScienceIn orbitSuccessful

February

1 February
12:11 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 265 (Meteor-1) RVSN Low Earth Meteorology1 February 1969Failure
5 February
06:46 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4B 6 (OPS 3890) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging24 February 1969 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg P-801 2 (OPS 2644) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbitSuccessful
6 February
00:39 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta M Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-17A Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat III F-3 Intelsat Geostationary Communications In orbitSuccessful
7 February
13:59 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 265 (DS-P1-Yu No.21) RVSN Low Earth Radar calibration1 May 1969 [5] Successful
9 February
21:09 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIC Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg TACSAT-1 (OPS 0757) USAF Geostationary Communications In orbitSuccessful
19 February
06:48 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K / Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Luna 15a + Lunokhod 1A (Ye-8 №201) Selenocentric Lunar lander and rover19 February 1969Failure
Engine failure in the first stage, rocket crashed 15 km from the pad.
21 February
09:18
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg N1/L3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-110/38 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Zond L1S-1 RVSN Selenocentric Test flight21 FebruaryFailure
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Dummy LK RVSN Selenocentric Mass simulator21 FebruaryFailure
25 February
01:29 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Mariner 6 NASA Heliocentric Mars flybyIn orbitSuccessful
25 February
10:20 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 266 (Zenit-2) Low Earth Optical imaging5 March 1969 [5] Successful
26 February
07:47 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta E1 Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17B Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg ESSA-9 ESSA Low Earth (SSO) Meteorology In orbitSuccessful
26 February
08:30 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 267 (Zenit-4) Low Earth Optical imaging6 March 1969 [5] Successful

March

3 March
16:00
Flag of the United States.svg Saturn V Flag of the United States.svg KSC LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 9 CSM Gumdrop NASA Low Earth Crewed orbital flight13 March 1969Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 9 LM Spider NASA Low Earth Test flight13 March 1969Successful
First crewed orbital test of lunar module
4 March
16:48 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 4248) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging18 March 1969 [5] Successful
Apogee was too high as the Agena rocket stage failed to switch off at a correct time. [9]
5 March
13:04 [10]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 268 (DS-P1-Yu No.18) Low Earth Radar calibration9 May 1970 [5] Successful
5 March
17:25 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 269 (Tselina-O-4) Low Earth ELINT 21 October 1978 [5] Successful
6 March
12:15 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 270 (Zenit-4 No.52) Low Earth Optical imaging14 March 1969 [5] Successful
15 March
12:15 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 271 (Zenit-4 No.53) Low Earth Optical imaging23 March 1969 [5] Successful
17 March
17:25 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 272 (Sfera No.4) Low Earth Geodesy In orbitSuccessful
18 March
07:40 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas F-OV1 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg ABRES-A2 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OV1-17 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration 5 March 1970 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg OV1-17A ORBISCAL USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration 24 March 1969 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg OV1-18 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 August 1972 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg OV1-19 USAF Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitSuccessful
19 March
21:38 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4A 50 (OPS 3722) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging24 March 1969 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg P-11 (OPS 2285) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance 6 December 1971 [5] Successful
22 March
12:15 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 273 (Zenit-2 No.72) Low Earth Optical imaging30 March 1969 [5] Successful
24 March
10:10 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 274 (Zenit-4 No.54) Low Earth Optical imaging1 April 1969 [5] Successful
26 March
12:30 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Meteor-1 1 Low Earth Meteorology 26 March 2012Successful
27 March
10:40 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/23 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Mars 2M No.521 Areocentric Mars orbiter27 March 1969Failure
Payload fairing failed at T+51. Third stage failed to ignite.
27 March
22:22 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Mariner 7 NASA Heliocentric Mars flybyIn orbitSuccessful
28 March
16:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 275 (DS-P1-I No.5) RVSN Low Earth Radar calibration7 February 1970 [5] Successful

April

2 April
10:33 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Mars 2M No.522 Areocentric Mars orbiter and lander2 April 1969Failure
Rocket crashed near pad after 1st stage engine failure.
4 April
10:20 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 276 (Zenit-4 No.55) Low Earth Optical imaging11 April 1969 [5] Successful
4 April
13:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 277 (DS-P1-Yu No.20) Low Earth Radar calibration6 July 1969 [5] Successful
9 April
13:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 278 (Zenit-2 No.73) Low Earth Optical imaging17 April 1969 [5] Successful
11 April
02:30 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-1 No.11 Molniya Communications 17 April 1974Successful
13 April
02:24 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas-SLV3A Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-13 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Canyon 2 (OPS 3148) NRO Geostationary Reconnaissance In orbitSuccessful
14 April
07:54 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-2E Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Nimbus 3 NASA, NOAA Low Earth Meteorology In orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg SECOR-13 US Army Low Earth Geodesy In orbitSuccessful
15 April
08:14 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 279 (Zenit-4 No.56) Low Earth Optical imaging23 April 1969 [5] Successful
15 April
17:30 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 5310) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging30 April 1969 [5] Successful
23 April
09:55 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 280 (Zenit-4M No.3) Low Earth Optical imaging6 May 1969 [5] Successful

May

2 May
01:46 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4A 51 (OPS 1101) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging23 May 1969 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg P-11 (OPS 1721) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance 16 February 1970 [5] Successful
13 May
09:15 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 281 (Zenit-2 No.74) Low Earth Optical imaging21 May 1969 [5] Successful
18 May
16:49
Flag of the United States.svg Saturn V Flag of the United States.svg KSC LC-39B Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 10 CSM Charlie Brown NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight26 May 1969Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 10 LM Snoopy NASA Selenocentric Test flightIn orbitSuccessful
First test of lunar module in lunar orbit. "Dress rehearsal" of Apollo 11 landing.
20 May
08:40 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 282 (Zenit-4 No.57) Low Earth Optical imaging28 May 1969 [5] Successful
22 May
02:00 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta M Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat III F-4 Intelsat Geostationary Communications In orbitSuccessful
23 May
07:57 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIC Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral SLC-41 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Vela 9, 10 USAF High Earth Nuclear detectionIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg OV5 5, 6, 9 USAF High Earth Technology demonstration In orbitSuccessful
27 May
12:59 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 283 (DS-P1-Yu No.21) Low Earth Radar calibration10 December 1969 [5] Successful
29 May
06:59 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 284 (Zenit-4 No.58) Low Earth Optical imaging6 June 1969 [5] Successful

June

3 June
12:57 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 285 (DS-P1-Yu No.22) Low Earth Radar calibration7 October 1969 [5] Successful
3 June
16:49 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 1077) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging14 June 1969 [5] Successful
5 June
14:42 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2H Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OGO 6 NASA Low Earth Research12 October 1979 [5] Successful
14 June
04:00 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Luna E-8-5 No. 402 Selenocentric Lunar sample return14 June 1969Failure
Blok D upper stage failed to ignite, thus leaving the payload on a suborbital trajectory.
15 June
08:59 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 286 (Zenit-4 No.59) Low Earth Optical imaging23 June 1969 [5] Successful
21 June
08:47 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta E1 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-2W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Explorer 41 (IMP-G) NASA Highly elliptical Magnetospheric researchIn orbitSuccessful
24 June
06:50 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 287 (Zenit-2 No.75) Low Earth Optical imaging2 July 1969 [5] Successful
27 June
06:59 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 288 (Zenit-4 No.60) Low Earth Optical imaging5 July 1969 [5] Successful
29 June
03:15 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta N Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Biosatellite 3 NASA Low Earth Life science7 July 1969 [5] Successful

July

2 July
07:04
Flag of Europe.svg Europa-1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-6A Flag of Europe.svg ELDO
Flag of Europe.svg STV-2 ELDO Test flight2 July 1969Failure
3 July
20:18
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg N1/L3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-110/38 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Zond L1S-2 Selenocentric Test flight3 July 1969Failure
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Dummy LK Selenocentric Mass simulator3 July 1969Failure
Exploded due to faulty engines and a bolt that was sucked into a fuel pump.
10 July
09:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 289 (Zenit-4 No.61) Low Earth Optical imaging15 July 1969 [5] Successful
13 July
02:54 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Luna 15 (Ye-8-5 №401) Selenocentric Lunar sample return20 July 1969Success
Lander crashed to the surface of the Moon in an attempted landing.
16 July
13:32
Flag of the United States.svg Saturn V Flag of the United States.svg KSC LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 11 CSM Columbia NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight24 July 1969Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 11 LM Eagle NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar landingIn orbitSuccessful
First crewed Moon landing.
22 July
12:30 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 290 (Zenit-2 No.76) Low Earth Optical imaging30 July 1969 [5] Successful
22 July
12:55 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-M/Blok ML Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Molniya-1 No.12 Molniya Communications 18 June 1971 [5] Successful
23 July
04:39 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thor-LV2F Burner-2 Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-10W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg DSAP-4B F3 (OPS 1127) USAF, NRO Low Earth Meteorology In orbitSuccessful
23 July
09:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg DS-P1-Yu No.23 Low Earth Radar calibration23 July 1969Failure
Second stage failed at T+267 seconds.
24 July
01:30 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2H-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4B 7 (OPS 3654) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging23 August 1969 [5] Successful
26 July
02:06 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta M Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Intelsat III F-5 Intelsat Geostationary Communications 14 October 1988 [5] Failure
Third stage failure left the spacecraft in an unusable orbit.
31 July
10:19 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-1W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Strawman-2 (OPS 8285) USAF Low Earth ELINT 4 January 1973 [5] Successful

August

6 August
05:40 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 90/19 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 291 (IS-GVM) Low Earth Mass simulator8 September 1969Successful
First test flight of Tsyklon-2 booster. Flew with a dummy payload planned to be used as an ASAT target but the ASAT interceptor test flight was later cancelled.
7 August
23:48 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/23 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Zond 7 High Earth Lunar flyby13 August 1969Successful
The only successful test flight of Soyuz 7K-L1 spacecraft. Circumlunar flight, perilune 1,984 km.
9 August
07:52 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta N Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg OSO 6 NASA Low Earth Solar observatory7 March 1981 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg PAC 1 NASA Low Earth Technology demonstration 28 April 1977 [5] Successful
12 August
11:01 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Atlas SLV-3C Centaur-D Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-36A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg ATS-5 NASA Geosynchronous Communications In orbitSuccessful
13 August
22:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132/2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 292 (Zaliv No.3) Low Earth Navigation In orbitSuccessful
16 August
11:59 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 293 (Zenit-2M No.4) / Nauka 5KS L.1 Low Earth Optical imaging28 August 1969 [5] Successful
19 August
13:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 294 (Zenit-4 No.62) Low Earth Optical imaging27 August 1969 [5] Successful
22 August
14:14 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 295 (DS-P1-Yu No.24) Low Earth Radar calibration1 December 1969 [5] Successful
23 August
16:00 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 7807) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging7 September 1969 [5] Successful
27 August
21:59 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta L Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Pioneer E NASA Heliocentric Solar orbiter 27 August 1969Failure
Flag of the United States.svg TETR 3 NASA Low Earth orbit Technology demonstration 27 August 1969Failure
First flight of Delta L rocket. First stage hydraulics failure threw the second stage far off course and the vehicle was destroyed by range safety at T+383 seconds.
29 August
09:05 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 296 (Zenit-4 No.63) Low Earth Optical imaging6 September 1969 [5] Successful

September

2 September
11:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 297 (Zenit-4 No.64) Low Earth Optical imaging10 September 1969 [5] Successful
15 September
08:40 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg R-36O Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 191/66 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 298 (OGCh No.21) Low Earth Weapon test15 September 1969 [5] Successful
18 September
08:40 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 299 (Zenit-4 No.65) Low Earth Optical imaging22 September 1969 [5] Successful
22 September
02:10 [11]
Flag of Japan.svg Lambda 4S Flag of Japan.svg Kagoshima L Flag of Japan.svg ISAS
Flag of Japan.svg Ōsumi-4 ISAS Low Earth Test flight22 September 1969Failure
22 September
21:11 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4A 52 (OPS 3531) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging13 October 1969 [5] Successful
Flag of the United States.svg P-11 (OPS 4710) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance 16 May 1971 [5] Successful
23 September
14:07 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 300 (Luna 16a, Ye-8-5 №403) Selenocentric Lunar sample return27 September 1969 [5] Failure
Blok D stage failed due to valve defect and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit.
24 September
12:15 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 301 (Zenit-2 No.77) Low Earth Optical imaging2 October 1969 [5] Successful
30 September
13:40 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2G-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg Poppy 8A-D (NRL-PL 161-164) NRL/US Navy Low Earth ELINT In orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg NRL-PL 165 NRL/US Navy Low Earth Technology demonstration In orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Timation-2 NRL/US Navy Low Earth Navigation In orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg Tempsat 2 NRL Low Earth CalibrationIn orbitSuccessful
Flag of the United States.svg SOICAL Cone & Cylinder USAF Low Earth CalibrationCone: In orbit
Cylinder: 14 February 2023 [13]
Successful
Flag of the United States.svg P-11 (OPS 7613) USAF Low Earth Reconnaissance In orbitSuccessful

October

1 October
22:29 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Scout-B Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-5 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO 1B ESRO Low Earth ResearchIn orbitPartial failure
Orbit was lower than planned.
6 October
01:45 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vostok-2M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Meteor-1 2 Low Earth Meteorology 20 August 2002 [5] Successful
11 October
11:10
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 6 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 7 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
12 October
10:44
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 7 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 8 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
13 October
10:19
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur LC-31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg RVSN
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 8 RVSN Low Earth Crewed orbital flight16 October 1969Partial failure
Rendezvous with Soyuz 6 and 7 unsuccessful due to electronic failure.
14 October [14]
13:19
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Interkosmos 1 (DS-U3-IK No.1) Interkosmos Low Earth Solar research2 January 1970 [5] Successful
17 October
11:45 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 302 (Zenit-4 No.66) Low Earth Optical imaging25 October 1969 [5] Successful
18 October
10:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 303 (DS-P1-Yu No.25) Low Earth Radar calibration23 January 1970 [5] Successful
21 October
12:49 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 304 (Zaliv No.4) Low Earth Navigation In orbitSuccessful
22 October
14:09 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/24 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 305 (Luna 16b, Ye-8-5 №404) Selenocentric Lunar sample returnIn orbitFailure
Control system of the Blok D stage failed and the probe failed to leave Earth orbit.
24 October
09:40 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 1/5 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 306 (Zenit-2M No.5) Low Earth Optical imaging5 November 1969 [5] Successful
24 October
13:01 [10]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 307 (DS-P1-Yu No.26) Low Earth Radar calibration30 December 1970 [5] Successful
24 October
18:10 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Titan IIIB Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-4W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-8 Gambit 3 (OPS 8455) USAF Low Earth Optical imaging8 November 1969 [5] Successful

November

4 November
11:59 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 308 (DS-P1-I No.6) Low Earth Radar calibration4 January 1970 [5] Successful
8 November
01:52 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Scout-B Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-5 Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of Germany.svg Azur BMWF/DLR Medium Earth Ionospheric researchIn orbitSuccessful
First West German satellite
12 November
11:30 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 309 (Zenit-2 No.78) / Nauka 3KS L.1 Low Earth Optical imaging20 November 1969 [5] Successful
14 November
16:22
Flag of the United States.svg Saturn V Flag of the United States.svg KSC LC-39A Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 12 CSM Yankee Clipper NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar orbital flight24 November 1969Successful
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 12 LM Intrepid NASA Selenocentric Crewed Lunar landing20 November 1969Successful
Second crewed Moon landing.
15 November
08:30 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 31/6 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 310 (Zenit-4 No.67) Low Earth Optical imaging23 November 1969 [5] Successful
22 November
02:00 [7]
Flag of the United States.svg Delta M Flag of the United States.svg Cape Canaveral LC-17A Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skynet 1A MoD Geostationary Communications (military)In orbitSuccessful
24 November
11:00 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 311 (DS-P1-Yu No.27) Low Earth Radar calibration10 March 1970 [5] Successful
24 November
16:49 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 312 (Sfera No.5) Low Earth Geodesy In orbitSuccessful
28 November
09:00 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Proton-K/Blok D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 81/23 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soyuz 7K-L1E Medium Earth Flight test In orbitFailure
First stage failure

December

3 December
13:20 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 313 (Zenit-2M No.6) / Gektor No.6 Low Earth Optical imaging15 December 1969 [5] Successful
4 December
21:37 [8]
Flag of the United States.svg Thorad-SLV2H-Agena-D Flag of the United States.svg Vandenberg SLC-3W Flag of the United States.svg
Flag of the United States.svg KH-4B 8 (OPS 6617) CIA Low Earth Optical imaging10 January 1970 [5] Successful
11 December
12:58 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 133/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 314 (DS-P1-Yu No.28) Low Earth Radar calibration22 March 1970 [5] Successful
20 December
03:26 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 315 (Tselina-O No.5) Low Earth ELINT 25 March 1979 [5] Successful
23 December
09:25 [6]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Tsyklon-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Baikonur Site 90/19 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 316 (I2P No.3) Low Earth Dummy ASAT warhead 28 August 1970 [5] Successful
23 December
13:50 [4]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Voskhod Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 41/1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos 317 (Zenit-4MK No.1 / Germes No.1) Low Earth Optical imaging5 January 1970 [5] Successful
25 December
09:59 [10]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-2I Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kapustin Yar Site 86/4 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Interkosmos 2 (DS-U1-IK No.1) Interkosmos Low Earth Ionosphere research7 June 1970 [5] Successful
27 December [4] Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Kosmos-3M Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Plesetsk Site 132 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Ionosfernaya No.1 Low Earth Ionosphere researchIn orbitFailure

Suborbital flights

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks

January-March

17 January [15] Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Cajun Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of Sweden.svg / Flag of the United States.svg RTG SNC 2A / 1 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy 17 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 117 kilometres (73 mi).
21 January [16] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 6 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL781 Solar x-ray mission RAE/WRE Suborbital Astronomy 21 JanuaryFailure
23 January
20:00 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg / Ion / Te Ionosphere mission RAE/WRE Suborbital Astronomy 23 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi).
23 January
23:00 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Cajun Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of Sweden.svg / Flag of the United States.svg RTG SNC 2A / 3 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy 23 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 116 kilometres (72 mi).
25 January
21:00 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Cajun Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of Sweden.svg / Flag of the United States.svg RTG SNC 2A / 4 Aeronomy mission NASA/RTG Suborbital Aeronomy 25 JanuarySuccessful
Apogee: 118 kilometres (73 mi).
3 February
21:05 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Electrons Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research3 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi).
11 February
21:09 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Electrons Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research11 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 157 kilometres (98 mi).
14 February
22:15 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research14 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 149 kilometres (93 mi).
15 February
21:20 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research15 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 153 kilometres (95 mi).
20 February
11:48 [17]
Flag of France.svg Véronique Flag of France.svg Kourou ALFS Flag of France.svg LRBA
FU-170 CIRCE CNES SuborbitalIonosphere research20 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi)
25 February
16:33 [18]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C49 / 1 (R3) Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 136 kilometres (85 mi).
25 February
21:37 [18]
Flag of the United States.svg Sidewinder Arcas Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO A40 / 4 Ionosphere / plasma / field mission ESRO Suborbital25 FebruaryFailure
25 February
23:50 [18]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C49 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital25 FebruarySuccessful
Apogee: 128 kilometres (80 mi).
15 March
17:55 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Apache Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
Flag of Germany.svg DLR K-NA-11 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 226 kilometres (140 mi).
15 March
20:54 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 2 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S43 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi).
15 March
22:31 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C52 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital15 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 211 kilometres (131 mi).
16 March
18:05 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Apache Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
Flag of Germany.svg DLR K-NA-17 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 16 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 233 kilometres (145 mi).
17 March
00:04 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Particles Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 151 kilometres (94 mi).
17 March
18:10 [15]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Apache Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
Flag of Germany.svg DLR K-NA-18 DFVLR Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 231 kilometres (144 mi).
17 March
18:23 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg E field gradient Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 148 kilometres (92 mi).
18 March
18:16 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg E-region E field Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research18 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 170 kilometres (110 mi).
20 March
05:37 [19]
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier Sandhawk Flag of the United States.svg Poker Flat Research Range Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
HEMLOCK DARPA SuborbitalAeronomy20 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 176 kilometres (109 mi)
29 March
20:00 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Petrel Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Bristol Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Small scale structure Ionosphere mission SRC Suborbital Ionosphere research29 MarchSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).

April-June

1 April
09:54 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg X-ray Survey X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 1 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 192 kilometres (119 mi).
3 April
00:35 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 6 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL502 Ionosphere / solar x-rays mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 3 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 192 kilometres (119 mi).
9 April
20:38 [18]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Apache Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
Flag of Norway.svg Ferdinand 20 Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 9 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi).
13 April
00:33 [18]
Flag of France.svg Dragon 2B Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range
Flag of France.svg FU-182 Ions / Electric field Ionosphere mission CNES Suborbital Ionosphere research13 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 139 kilometres (86 mi).
14 April
18:15 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C39 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital14 AprilFailure
15 April
11:03 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C39 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital15 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 134 kilometres (83 mi).
16 April [20] Flag of Argentina.svg Canopus 2 Flag of Argentina.svg CELPA Flag of Argentina.svg CONAE
CONAE SuborbitalTest flight16 AprilSuccessful
First flight of Canopus 2 sounding rocket. Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).
17 April
05:05 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL606 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 17 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 202 kilometres (126 mi).
17 April
21:48 [18]
Flag of France.svg Dragon 2B Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range
Flag of France.svg FU-190 E field / Barium release / Ionosphere mission CNES Suborbital17 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 329 kilometres (204 mi).
22 April
03:31 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL604 Solar ultraviolet mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 22 AprilSuccessful
Apogee: 181 kilometres (112 mi).
1 May [21] Flag of the United States.svg Sandhawk Tomahawk Flag of the United States.svg Pacific Missile Range Facility Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
Sandia National Laboratories SuborbitalTest flight1 MaySuccessful
First flight of the Sandhawk Tomahawk configuration. Apogee: 528 kilometres (328 mi).
14 May
02:44 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL404 Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 14 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 178 kilometres (111 mi).
24 May
05:52 [22]
Flag of the United States.svg Terrier Tomahawk Flag of the United States.svg Pacific Missile Range Facility Flag of the United States.svg Sandia
LRL BOX-16 TT-9 Sandia National Laboratories SuborbitalAstronomy24 MaySuccessful
Apogee: 159 kilometres (99 mi)
5 June
19:28 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C35 / 2 X-ray astronomy mission ESRO Suborbital5 JuneSuccessful
Apogee: 130 kilometres (81 mi).
27 June
22:58 [23]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Black Arrow R0 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-5B Flag of the United Kingdom.svg RAE
RAE SuborbitalTest flight27 JuneFailure
Test flight with inert third stage. Lost control 50 seconds into the flight, destroyed by range safety.

July-September

5 July
19:45 [24]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Italy.svg Salto di Quirra Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S38 / 1 Ionosphere mission ESRO Suborbital Ionosphere research5 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 200 kilometres (120 mi).
6 July
19:50 [24]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Italy.svg Salto di Quirra Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S64 / 1 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy 6 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 275 kilometres (171 mi).
11 July
19:42 [24]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Italy.svg Salto di Quirra Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S38 / 2 Ionosphere mission ESRO Suborbital Ionosphere research11 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 203 kilometres (126 mi).
13 July
19:41 [24]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Italy.svg Salto di Quirra Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S64 / 2 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy 13 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 280 kilometres (170 mi).
14 July
23:53 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Electron profile Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research14 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 216 kilometres (134 mi).
15 July [25] [26] Flag of the Soviet Union.svg K63D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vladimirovka near Kapustin Yar
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg BOR-1 SuborbitalRe-entry test for the Spiral program 15 JulySuccessful
Subscale model of the Spiral spaceplane, transmitted data until burning up as planned at 60-70 km altitude. Apogee: 100 km [27]
16 July
22:33 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dayglow / electrons Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research16 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi).
24 July [28] Flag of Australia (converted).svg HAD Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg WRE
WRE SuborbitalTest flight24 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi)
25 July
04:10 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Electron profile Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research25 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 244 kilometres (152 mi).
29 July
22:57 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dayglow / electrons Ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 262 kilometres (163 mi).
5 August
09:08 [29]
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Aero High Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg WRE
WRE Suborbital5 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi)
11 August
01:30 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C51 / 1 Aeronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Aeronomy 11 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi).
14 August
02:01 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C58 / 1 Meteorites mission ESRO Suborbital11 AugustSuccessful
Apogee: 112 kilometres (70 mi).
21 August
01:57 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg HRCS / PHC Solar x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 29 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 197 kilometres (122 mi).
12 September [20] Flag of Argentina.svg Rigel Flag of Argentina.svg CELPA Flag of Argentina.svg CONAE
CONAE SuborbitalTest flight12 SeptemberSuccessful
First test flight of Rigel sounding rocket. Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)

October-December

5 October
22:28 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 2 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S29 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital5 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi).
10 October
20:01 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C52 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital10 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 135 kilometres (84 mi).
15 October
18:46 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grenades / TMA/Barium release Aeronomy / ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research15 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi).
17 October
09:15 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Grenades / TMA/Barium release Aeronomy / ionosphere mission BAC Suborbital Ionosphere research17 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 318 kilometres (198 mi).
17 October
22:27 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 2 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S29 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital17 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 225 kilometres (140 mi).
20 October
07:28 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg UK SL586 test BAC Suborbital Technology demonstration 20 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 223 kilometres (139 mi).
22 October
06:10 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg X-ray survey / Solar X X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 22 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 216 kilometres (134 mi).
23 October [20] Flag of Argentina.svg Canopus 2 Flag of Argentina.svg CELPA Flag of Argentina.svg CONAE
CONAE SuborbitalTest flight23 OctoberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).
24 October
05:44 [24]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark Flag of Italy.svg Salto di Quirra Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S68 / 1 X-ray astronomy mission ESRO Suborbital Astronomy 13 JulySuccessful
Apogee: 184 kilometres (114 mi).
8 November [30] Flag of France.svg Vesta Flag of France.svg Kourou ALFS Flag of France.svg LRBA
FU-189 Star pointing test CNES SuborbitalTechnology demonstration8 NovemberSuccessful
Last flight of the Vesta sounding rocket. Apogee: 204 kilometres (127 mi).
10 November
21:00 [15]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 2 Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO S46 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital10 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 214 kilometres (133 mi).
18 November
02:17 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Fresnel shadowgraph X-ray astronomy mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 18 NovemberFailure
Apogee: 208 kilometres (129 mi).
20 November
00:30 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Solar ultraviolet Spectrum / PHC Solar ultraviolet and x-ray mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 20 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 242 kilometres (150 mi).
26 November
00:38 [18]
Flag of the United States.svg Nike-Cajun Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of Norway.svg Ferdinand 21 Aeronomy / ionosphere mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 26 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 107 kilometres (66 mi).
26 November
23:32 [16]
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Skylark 3 AC Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-2 SL Flag of the United Kingdom.svg British Aerospace
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Solar ultraviolet FP / PHC Solar ultraviolet mission BAC Suborbital Astronomy 26 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 180 kilometres (110 mi).
27 November
05:29 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C62 / 1 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 160 kilometres (99 mi).
27 November
06:31 [15]
Flag of France.svg Centaure 2B Flag of Sweden.svg Esrange C
Flag of Europe.svg ESRO C62 / 2 Aurora mission ESRO Suborbital27 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 164 kilometres (102 mi).
30 November
02:58 [18]
Flag of the United States.svg Sparrow-Arcas Flag of Norway.svg Andøya Rocket Range Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of Norway.svg Arcas VII Aeronomy / ionosphere / plasma mission NTNF Suborbital Ionosphere research, Aeronomy 30 NovemberSuccessful
Apogee: 100 kilometres (62 mi).
6 December
06:00 [25]
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg K63D Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Vladimirovka near Kapustin Yar
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg BOR-2 No.101SuborbitalRe-entry test for the Spiral program6 DecemberSuccessful
Subscale model of the Spiral spaceplane. [31] Apogee: 100 km
9 December [28] Flag of Australia (converted).svg HAD Flag of Australia (converted).svg Woomera LA-1 Flag of Australia (converted).svg WRE
WRE SuborbitalTest flight9 DecemberSuccessful
Last flight of HAD rocket. Apogee: 115 kilometres (71 mi).
22 December [20] Flag of Argentina.svg Rigel Flag of Argentina.svg CELPA Flag of Argentina.svg CONAE
CONAE SuborbitalTest flight22 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 250 kilometres (160 mi)
23 December [20] Flag of Argentina.svg Canopus 2 Flag of Argentina.svg CELPA Flag of Argentina.svg CONAE
CONAE SuborbitalTest flight23 DecemberSuccessful
Apogee: 150 kilometres (93 mi).

Launches from the Moon

Date and time (UTC) Rocket Flight number Launch site LSP
Payload
(⚀ = CubeSat)
Operator Orbit Function Decay (UTC)Outcome
Remarks
21 July
17:54
Flag of the United States.svg Lunar Module Ascent Stage Tranquility Base, Mare Tranquillitatis ( Luna ) Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 11 LMNASASelenocentric (CSM)CrewedIn orbitSuccessful
Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing
20 November
14:25:47
Flag of the United States.svg Lunar Module Ascent Stage Ocean of Storms (Luna) Flag of the United States.svg NASA
Flag of the United States.svg Apollo 12 LMNASASelenocentric (CSM)Crewed20 NovemberSuccessful
Carrying two astronauts back to CSM after lunar landing

Deep-space rendezvous

Date (GMT)SpacecraftEventRemarks
16 May Venera 5 Atmospheric entry in Venus Atmospheric probe worked for 53 min in the Venerian atmosphere
17 May Venera 6 Atmospheric entry in Venus Atmospheric probe worked for 51 min in the Venerian atmosphere
21 May Apollo 10 31 orbits around the Moon Altitude ~15,4 km
20 July Apollo 11 Moon landing22 kg from Mare Tranquillitatis (sample return mission)
21 July Luna 15 Moon impactImpacted at Mare Crisium (sample return mission). Primary mission failed.
5 August Mariner 6 Flyby of Mars Periapsis: 3,412 km. 25 close-up pictures.
5 August Mariner 7 Flyby of Mars Periapsis: 3,543 km. 33 close-up pictures.
11 August Zond 7 Circumlunar flightPeriapsis: 1,984 km.
19 November Apollo 12 Moon landing34 kg from Oceanus Procellarum (sample return mission)

Extravehicular activities (EVAs)

Start Date/TimeDurationEnd TimeSpacecraftCrewRemarks


Orbital launch statistics

By country

Circle frame.svgEurope: 1Japan: 1Soviet Union: 82USA: 41
CountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial
failures
Remarks
Flag of Europe.svg  Europe 1010
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1010
Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 8268140
Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 413722
World125105182

By rocket

By family

FamilyCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Atlas Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 5500
Blue Streak Flag of Europe.svg  Europe 1010
Kosmos Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 222020
Lambda Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1010
N-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 2020First flight
R-7 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 444310
R-36 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 4310
Saturn Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4400
Scout Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 2101
Thor Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 222020
Titan Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 8701
Universal Rocket Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 10280

By type

RocketCountryFamilyLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Atlas-Agena Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Atlas1100
Atlas-Centaur Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Atlas3300
Atlas E/F Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Atlas1100
Delta Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Thor11920
Europa Flag of Europe.svg  Europe Blue Streak1010
Kosmos-2 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Kosmos151410
Kosmos-3 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Kosmos7610
Lambda 4 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan Lambda1010
Molniya Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union R-74400
N-1 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union N-12020First flight
Proton Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union Universal Rocket10280
R-36 Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union R-361100
Saturn V Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Saturn4400
Scout Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Scout2101
Soyuz Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union R-7373700
Thor-Burner Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Thor1100
Thorad-Agena Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Thor101000
Titan III Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States Titan8701
Tsyklon Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union R-363210
Vostok Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union R-73210

By configuration

By spaceport

SiteCountryLaunchesSuccessesFailuresPartial failuresRemarks
Baikonur Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 3827110
Cape Canaveral Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 151320
Kapustin Yar Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 3300
Kennedy Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4400
Plesetsk Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 413830
Kagoshima Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 1010
Vandenberg Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 222002
Woomera Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 1010

By orbit

Orbital regimeLaunchesAchievedNot AchievedAccidentally
Achieved
Remarks
Low Earth 858131
Geosynchronous / transfer 7610
Medium Earth 3210
High Earth 14770including highly elliptical and Molniya orbits and Trans Lunar trajectories
Heliocentric 7430

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1966 in spaceflight</span>

The year 1966 saw the peak and the end of the Gemini program. The program proved that docking in space and human EVA's could be done safely. It saw the first launch of the Saturn IB rocket, an important step in the Apollo program, and the launch of Luna 9, the first spacecraft to make a soft landing on a celestial object.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1967 in spaceflight</span>

The year 1967 in spaceflight saw the most orbital launches of the 20th century and more than any other year until 2021, including that of the first Australian satellite, WRESAT, which was launched from the Woomera Test Range atop an American Sparta rocket. The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 172 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1968 in spaceflight</span>

The United States National Space Science Data Center catalogued 157 spacecraft placed into orbit by launches which occurred in 1968. The first crewed Apollo missions occurred in 1968. It was also the year in which Earth lifeforms first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Zond 5 mission to the Moon and the Zond 6 lunar mission which crashed upon return, and the year that humans first left low Earth orbit, during the successful Apollo 8 mission to the Moon.

Japan and China each launched their first satellites in 1970, bringing the total number of nations with independent launch capability to five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1958 in spaceflight</span>

Explorer 1 was the first American satellite to reach orbit on 31 January 1958.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1971 in spaceflight</span>

1971 saw the last three known deaths of cosmonauts of the Soviet space program and the only deaths in space. Their mission was to man humanity's first space station. The experimental bay door failed to separate so the first crew failed to dock and second crew were killed on re-entry. 1971 also saw the launch of the first and only British satellite on top of a British rocket after that success the program was cancelled.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1972 in spaceflight</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1981 in spaceflight.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1994 in spaceflight</span>

This article outlines notable events occurring in 1994 in spaceflight, including major launches and EVAs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1956 in spaceflight</span>

This is a list of spaceflight related events which occurred in 1956.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 in spaceflight</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1975 in spaceflight</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1976 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1979 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1979 in spaceflight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980 in spaceflight</span>

The following is an outline of 1980 in spaceflight.

This is a list of spaceflights launched between October and December 1962. For launches in the rest of the year, see 1962 in spaceflight (January–March), 1962 in spaceflight (April–June) and 1962 in spaceflight (July–September). For an overview of the whole year, see 1962 in spaceflight.

References

  1. Howard E. McCurdy, et al. "Helpful Lessons From The Space Race." Issues in Science & Technology 27.4 (2011): 19–22. Academic Search Premier. Web. 23 October 2013.
  2. "Excerpt from the 'Special Message to the Congress on Urgent National Needs'" NASA. 24 May 2004. 24 May 2015. <https://www.nasa.gov/vision/space/features/jfk_speech_text.html#.VWIGJ0_tmkp Archived 8 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine >.
  3. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "Venera". Archived from the original on 11 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 Wade, Mark. "Plesetsk". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 McDowell, Jonathan. "Satellite Catalog". Jonathan's Space Page. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
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  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Wade, Mark. "Cape Canaveral". Archived from the original on 3 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Wade, Mark. "Vandenberg". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  9. 1 2 Krebs, Gunter. "KH-8 Gambit-3 (Block 1)". Gunter's Space Page. Archived from the original on 5 October 2017. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 Wade, Mark. "Kapustin Yar". Archived from the original on 23 October 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  11. Wade, Mark. "Lambda 4S". Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  12. "SOICAL (CYLINDER)". N2YO.com. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
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  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Wade, Mark. "Woomera". Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  17. Wade, Mark. "Veronique". Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Wade, Mark. "Andoya". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  19. Wade, Mark. "Terrier Sandhawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Rigel". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  21. Wade, Mark. "Sandhawk Tomahawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  22. Wade, Mark. "Terrier Tomahawk". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  23. Wade, Mark. "Black Arrow". Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 Wade, Mark. "Salto di Quirra". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
  25. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "K63D". www.astronautix.com. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  26. Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "BOR-1". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  27. Petrovitch, Vassili. "BOR Description". www.buran-energia.com. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
  28. 1 2 Wade, Mark. "HAD". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  29. Wade, Mark. "Aero High". Archived from the original on 28 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  30. Wade, Mark. "Vesta". Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 19 October 2017.
  31. Krebs, Gunter Dirk. "BOR-2". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
Generic references:
RocketSunIcon.svg Spaceflightportal


Preceded by Timeline of spaceflight
1969
Succeeded by